Supporting and glazing construction for skylights and like structures.



T. DUFFY.- SUPPORTING AND GLAZING CONSTRUGTEON FOR SKYLIGHTS AND UKESTRUCTURES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30, I908.

Patented 0017.12, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEETI mam mi-reap era FATE THOMAS I.DUFFY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THENEATHERPROOF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

flygfijfigg i Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 12,

Application ma Novemher so, 1908. Serial No. $65,320.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, THOMAS I. DUFFY, a

citizen of the'United States, and a'resident' of Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Supporting and" Glazing Construction for Skylights andLike Structures; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying-drawings, and to the let-' ters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this Specification.

This invention relates to improvements in skylight and other generallysimilar constructions composed in part of sheets or panes of'glass andin part of metal frame work which supports the glass and arranged toprovide weather-proof joints between the- The load adjacent margins ofthe glass.

supporting and glazing members are commercially known as skylight orweather proof glazing bars, and. it is these bars to which my inventionmore specincally relates.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple,durable and efficient dev1cc of this character, arranged il'or carryinga maximum load with a .min-

imum weight of material.

A further ObJSCl', of the invention is to provide an improved means torproviding a weather-proof joint between the upper surfaceof the glassand,the glazing bars car'- ried by the load supporting member.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedsealing strip which may be employed in this and other constructions forforming the joint between the glass and the glazing bars.

As shown in the drawings :Figure 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view ofa sky,

light construction showing'one form of the supporting and glazingstructure, an two adjacent panes of glass'supported thereom Fig. 2 is afragmentary plan View of a sky light construction embodying myinvention. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sect1on, illustrat1ngmeans for supporting overl lapping panes or sheets of glass of aninclined skylight structure l is a detail section on line of Fig. 3.Fig. 5' is a section illustrating a sealing strip en 1 ployed in theconstruction. Fig. 6 is a simi-' lar view of the sealing strip showingits improved structure may be used for a great:

variety of other work, such as vertical window work and the like. Theglass supporting or glazing bariof, my construction may be used eithervertically in window work as a mullion, or may be run horizontally ifdesired, and may be-placed in the latter manner in skylights if foundnecessary.

When used in skylight construction the main load carrying memberof myimproved supporting and glazing structure consists of a fiat barIO'arrangededgewise and which is adapted to be supported at its ends atthe ridge and caves of the skylight structure on suitable supports (notshown). 11, 11 designate the panes of glass that are supported at theirmargins on and carried by the load carrying member. The said panes ofglass are supported on the load carrying member 10 through the mediumof" folded sheet metal strips, designated as a whole by 12, 12, arrangedone on each side of the load carrying members. Under some circumstancesthe load-carrying member may be provided with other means thanthe-folded metal strips for the purpose of engagingand supportingthe'panes of glass; for example, the load-carrying member may take theformof a T-bar, the flanges or which engage and support the glass. Eachof said folded strips comprise a web portion 13, 13 'v'vhich 109 erallyextending trough-shaped flange 15 105 arranged parallel with the loadcarrying member and constituting a trough or gutter through which waterof condensation collecting below the glass is drained ofl'. Cushioningstrips 16 are placed between the glass carrying ledges or flanges 14 andthe edges of the glass and afford cushions between the glass and therelatively ri 'd ledges, and also serve as supporting sur aces whichconform to any irregularlty'inthe glass and present a uniform surfacefor engagement of all parts of the glass with the supporting surface.Thesaid cushioning strips may be made of felt, rubber, cork, leather orlead. When made of relatively substantial mate- 15 rial they may beprovided with ribbed supporting surfaces, as shown to adapt them touneven surfaces of the glass.

The means shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, for providing awater-proofjoint at the upper side of the glass in order to prevent water and snowfrom finding their way around the inner or adjacent margins of the glassare made asfollows:

The load carrying member 10 extends 2 above the-level" of the panes ofglass between adjacent pines and on each side of said load carryingmember is arranged a glazing bar I ,17 which is disposed, in a planegenerally.

oblique to the plane of the vertical load 0 carrying member. The uppermarginal part 18 of each glazing bar 11 is arranged vertically and 'isengaged with a downwardly facing shoulder 21 formed on the lower sideofa rib, or bcad 19 on the upper edge of said load carrying member,there beluga longitudinal shoulder on each side 1 of said member. Saidshoulders are preferably slightly under-cut, as shown in Figs. 1

and 4; The intermediate portion'20 is dis- 40 posed'at an oblique'angleto the plane of the oad carrying member. The lower side of each glazing*bar is referably .curved, as shown at 25, and its ower, edge is engagedwith and is pressed upon a sealing strip 22 which lies on the upper faceof the glass.

ends, beneath said glazing bars, with'brackets 24 carried by the loadcarrying member, The said brackets 24 are each made of a metal bar whichextends through an opening in and is fixed to, the load carrying memberand the ends of the bar are bent-downwardly at oblique angles to theplane of the load carrying member. The oblique ends, of the bracketsare'provided'with screw-threaded apertures to receive the screws 23. The

screwsthreadcdengageme it at their innerheads of said screws are slittedto receive a screw-driver or like implement to insert the same in place.'(lushioning or resilient washers 26 are interposed between the heads ofthe screws and the outer faces of the oblique web portions of theglazing bars. The pressure exertedby the screws 23 has the efiect ofclosely pressing the upper edges of the glazing bars against theshoulders of the load carrying member, and, by reason of the slightundercut arrangement of said shoul ders, the possibilit of 'waterpassing around the upper edges of said bar-is eliminated.

'The sealing strips 22 herein'shown, and

constituting one feature of my invention, are

of peculiar construction to provide a good weather-proof joint betweenthe glazing bars and the glass. Said strips areznade of any suitablematerial having a substantial body, as lead, cork, rubber, leather andthe like. The cross-sectional shapeof the strip is such that whenpressure is transmitted thereto through the medium of the glaring bars,the strips change their cross-section to embrace the lower ed f of'the'glazing bars and.conform closely to the upper sides of the glass faces.To this end said sealing strips are provided at their u per edges withgrooves 28 (Fig. 5) which t the lower edges of the glazmgbars. The lowersides of said strips 7 are grooved or arched, givin each strip twolaterally separated, parallel lips, 29 for contact with the glass. Byreason of the construction described, and of the soft material of whichthe strips are made, when pressure is applied to said strips, (as whenthe screws 23 are tightened) the strips are mashed or distorted so as toclose the grooved upper sides thereof closely about the lower edges ofthe glazing bars 17,

lower sides 0 the stri s are spread apart while the paigllel, separatedlips 29 at the ner indicated in Fig. 6. In this in nner,the

and mash do n upon t. e glass inthe mane extent of bearing between'thesea 'ng strips and glazing bars and the lower sides of said strips andthe glass is increased and the strips are caused to follow anyirregularities in the upper surface of the glass. The effectiveness ofthe sealed joints between the strips and glass on one hand and theglazing bars onthe other hand are increased. This latter feature ofconstruction is especially important when the skylight or otherstructure is built up of what is known as wire glass, inasmuch as thesurface of the glassxs rough and uneven, This form of sealing strip maybe employed in connection with.

glazing bars of other constructions where it is desired to provide a,weather-proof joint between the edge of a pane or sheet of glass and itssupporting member orstructure.

in Figs. 3 and 7 l h'ave shown an arrdngemcnt whereby the panes oi"sheets of glass 11 of inclined skylight or like structure are sup portedto overlap at their edges, the lower edge of one paneofglass overlappingthe upper edge of the next lower pane. connection with such anarrangement, 1 have shown. a special form of the foldedstrip 12 whichthus supports the glass panes in overlapped relation. In this form ofthe folded strip the upper margin oithe web 18 thereof is bent laterallyto form glass carrying ledges 14 14 etc, arranged in planes parallel. tothe planes of the glass sheets or panes which they support and obliquetct the pitch planeyof the skylight or other structure. .The ledges 141& etc., at eaclr side of'each load carrying member 10 are formedintegral parts of a single folded strip which is coextensive in lengthwith the supporting member. The said ledges l4, l4, etc. are separated ashort distance at their adjoining ends by cutting away a portion of themetal before the ledges are folded. Each paneof glass extends at itslower: margin a distance beyond its carrying flange or ledge inoverlapping relation to the upper margin of the next lower sheet orpane, which latter margin extends to the upper end of its carryingledge. Between the overlapping margins of the sheets or panes of glassare arranged sealing strips ail-which su ort the lower mar inal arts oithe panes and ali'ord a weather-proof joint between overlappin panes.Said seal- 1n strips may be ma e of any suitable re atively softmaterial and are provided on their upper and lower surfaces withparallcl longitudinal ribs which serve toclosely adapt the strips to theuneven surface of the glass. In a complete skylight structure such stripextends from one glazing bar to the next adjacent one.

an advantage of the folded strips described is that l am able to makesuch strips continuous with the supporting or load carrying member 10,while providing means for supporting the glass panes in overlappingrelation. The structure, as a whole, is thus greatly strengthened; itbeing apparent that the webs of the continuous strips, bolted or ri etedas they are to the load carrying members, reinforce said load carryingmen) her and permit the parts to be made of smaller dimensions whileproviding a rela tively great load carrying capacity.

The glazing bars 17 are made of a length equal to that of the marginalparts of the glass panes which they cover. l lach glazing baiterminatesshort of the upper end of its associated pane, as herein shown, andextends beyond the lower end of said pane for overlapping engagementwith the gla'zing bar associated with the next lower pane,

as shown in Fig. 3; In orderto adapt the glazing bars 1'? to thediilerential planes oi the glass panes and the general pitch plane ofthe skylight structure, the upper vertical load carryin marginalportions 18 of the glazing. bars are sheared or cut at an angle to bringthe shoulder engaging edges thereof parallel to the shoulders beneaththe enlargements or ribs 19 of the load carrying members and at anoblique angle with respect to the lower edges of said glazing bars andthe planes of the glass panes. The upper ends of said vertical marginalportions of the glazing bars are, therefore, widest and they tapertoward their lower ends as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The ad acentends of the vertical portions 18 of the glazing bars fit in overlappingrelation to each other In case the glass panes be arranged in abuttingrelation and do not overlap, as herein shown, the glazing bars may bemade of uniform width throughout their length. In such construction thepitch of the panes will correspond to the pitch plane of the skylight orlike structure. 1

In Fig. 9 I have shown a construction wherein the glazing bars at theopposite sides of the load carrying members 10, instead of being made oftwo parts, consist of a single cap portion, designated as a whole by l5.The said glazing cap consists of oblique-web,portions l6, 46 havingtheir lower edges l7 curved to engage with the sealing strips 22, andare connected at their central portions by integral, downwardly openingchannels l8 which fit over the plane upper edges of the load carryingmembers 10. In this construction, the glazing caps are attached to theload carrying members bv short rods l9 which extend through and have atight or driving fit at theircentral' portions in openings in the loadcarrying members. Said rods are bent upwardly'and outwardly in divergingrelation from the load carrying members and extend through openings inthe webs 46 of the caps 45. The outer ends of said rods arescrew-threaded to receive nuts 50, between which and the webs of thecaps are interposed cushioning springs 51. The cushioning springs 51,shown in Fig. l), are volute springs, the inner turns of which areextended at the outer ends of the springs in the form of a cone forengagement with the nuts 50 or washers 52 between said nuts and springs.The said springs are compressible in the lines of their axes. Anadvantage of this form of spring is that in case it should break or loseits resiliency by the action of heat or otherwise the nut or washer willbe brought against a solid abutmpntwhen the spring is fully compressed.In practice, the range of movement of the spring as a cushioning member,when the nut is turned downwardly thereon, is slight so that in case ofloss of resiliency or breaking of the spring but weasel ing strip beingprovided on one side with strip for the purpose set forth provided on'one side with a groove to receivea glazing bar and at its other sidewith two laterally separated longitudinal glass engaging lips.

9. In a skylight and like structure where- .in the upper courses of theglass panes are arranged in overlapping relation to the lower courses, aload-carrying member comprising a Hat bar arranged on edge and aglass-supporting member attached to the side of said bar, said memberbeing formed from a blank of sheet metal having portions of its upperedge bent laterally away from saidbar in steps to form a plurality ofintegral glass supporting ledges, the' lower edge of said member beingbentout to form a continuous gutter.

10. In a skylight and like structure, a glass-supporting member formedfrom a blank of sheet metal, said member being adapted for attachmenttoa load-carrying member and being provided at its upper mar-gill with aplurality of laterally extending integral ledges arranged in steps, saidledges being formed cutting transversely into the upper edge of theblank at intervals, the strips of metal between cuts being folded at anangle to the body of the blank.

11. In a skylight and like structure, a "glass supporting member formedfrom a blank of sheet metal, said member being adapted for attachment"to a load carrying member and being provided at its upper margin with aplurality of laterally extending integral ledges, arranged insuccessively lower planes, said ledges being formed by cutting the blanktransversely at predetermined intervals to form cuts of differentlengths, and the strips of metal between the cuts being shearedandfolded to form'ledges longitudinally parallel to the required pitch 12.In a skylight and like structure, a

main or load-carrying member comprising glass-supporting portions and aweb projecting between the edges of adjacent panes of glass supported onsaid portions, obliquely disposed sheet metal glazing members ensaidpanes, and fastening devices for said glazing members, said devicesincluding the portions passing transversely through openings obliquelyto the plane of said web and gaging said glazing members.

13. In a skylight and like structure, a

main or load-carrying member comprising glass-supporting portions and aweb pro-- JBCtIDg between the edges of adjacent panes of glass supportedon, said portions, glazing members engaging said panes, a pieceprojecting transversely through said web, and bolts or screws carriedbysaid 14-. In a sk light and-like structure, a main or load-carryingmember comprising glasssupporting portions and a web projecting betweenthe edges of adjacent panes of glass supported on said portions, glazinginembers engaging said panes and having ,outer surfaces oblique tothe'planes ofsaid outer faces thereof.

15. In a skylight and like structure, a main or load-carrying membercomprising a glass-supporting portion and a Web extending beyond theedge of a pane of glass sup ported on said portion, substantially atright angles to the plane of said pane, aglazing member engaging saidpane, and a fastening device for said glazing member carried by theprojecting portion of said web outside of the outer surface of said paneand projecting obliquely to the plane thereof.

16. In a skylight and like structure, a main or load-carrying membercomprising a glass supporting portion and a web extending beyond theedge of a pane of glass supported on said portion, substantially at .65in said web and portions extending piecd'gand engaging said glazmgmembers.

Ill)

and projecting obliquely to the plane thereof, said fastening deviceincluding means for exerting a yielding pressure upon said glazingmember. a I

17. In a skylight and like structure, a main or load-carrying membercomprising a glass-supporting portion and a web extending beyond theedge of a pane of glass supported on said portion, substantially atright angles to the plane of said pane, a

glazing member engaging said pane, and a fastening device for saidglazing member comprising a portion passing transversely through anopening in said web outside of the outer surface of said pane and aportion capable of being easily upset to 18. A sealing strip for use inskylight and like structures formed'of comparatively soft impresslblematerialandhaving a plurality of longitudinally arranged laterallyseparated glass-engaging ribs of V-shaped section upon at least one sidethereof.

19. A sealing strip for use in skylight and like structures having aplurality of longitudinally arranged, laterally separated, low, glassengaging ribs,formed of soft impressible material; the side wall. oi heribs converging to form ribs having sharp edges, conform toirregularities in the surface of the glass.-

20. in a skylight and like structure, in combination, tn 0 overlappingpanes of strip havlng a plurality of ribs glass, and means for sealingthe joint be 20 tween said panes comprising a sealing strip of softimpressible metal inserted between the overlapping portions of saidpanes, said formed upon each of its glass-engaging surfaces, walls ofsaid ribs converging to farm ribs having sharp edges, capable of beingeasily upset to conform to irregularities in the surface of the glass.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as I my invention. 1 affix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this 6th day of NovemberALI). 1908.

THOMAS I. DUFFY.

Witnesses:

' W. L. HALL,

G. R. WILKINS.

the side 26

